Lee Enfield restoration

Improving and repairing firearms. Rifle bedding, barrel work, stock replacement and other ways to improve your firearms.

Lee Enfield restoration

Post by T_Murph » 19 Nov 2019, 8:08 am

Hey guys, just after a bit of advice on restoring an old rifle that my old man has had for years that was passed down by family from WW2. It's an old Lee Enfield No.1 stamped with 1902 on it. Was hoping that some of you could help me with identifying some of the markings on the attachments I have uploaded here.
The catch is that somewhere along the line it has been cut down from a .303 to a .410, ever heard of a bolt action .410?? weird.
I was wondering if it is possible to restore it to it's former .303 iron sight glory. Any help on this subject would be awesome!
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T_Murph
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Re: Lee Enfield restoration

Post by sungazer » 19 Nov 2019, 8:40 am

@No1Mk3 will be the person that can give you all the information about the rifle. I think by the dates it is more of a WW1 and 2 rifle. Are there any markings on the stock and what about on the other side of that last picture. The markings on the barrel are not that important as it would of been fitted at a later date. A picture of the entire rifle would also be helpful then people can see what the wood looks like. The best way to restore it, will be by buying other rifles that have the parts you need such as a barrel with sights. Often purchasing them on there own is more expensive.
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Re: Lee Enfield restoration

Post by T_Murph » 19 Nov 2019, 9:58 am

Thanks mate, I'll get some more photos of the stock and put them up. Never really thought of buying older rifles and cannabilising them to get the parts required, cheers for that
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Re: Lee Enfield restoration

Post by CAVEMAN » 19 Nov 2019, 4:19 pm

You might find it would be more of a mission to change it then embrace what it became. Give it a cleanup and some love and be a fun little shotgun.

This video isn't of your exact model but gives an idea of the train of thought behind it. https://youtu.be/ZzWrMhDYL3M
"Well if it ain't an 8 inch, i'm not paying"

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Re: Lee Enfield restoration

Post by No1Mk3 » 19 Nov 2019, 4:55 pm

G'day T_Murph,
Restoring that rifle is going to be a very involved and expensive proposition which will result in a rifle quite different to what you have been handed down. Firstly, it has an Australian Lithgow barrel fitted up to a Long Lee Enfield action by BSA, so you will search hard for a matching era barrel worth having. Then the woodwork, original LE Mk1 or 2 fore-end, $500+ if you can find one, I had one custom made for a Metford Mk2** which cost that. As for the one you have, the Indian Police used 410 converted 303's for decades, still do in many parts of India, they are available here as well as being converted here when military calibers were forbidden in some States after the war. The marks are, from the top, Lithgow Proof mark on the barrel and British Victorian era proof on the action under the face to face arrows mark for "Sold out of Service", showing the action was made and viewed whilst Victoria was still alive or just recentlr deceased, 2nd pic shows the same marks, 3rd pic shows the Lithgow View marks on the barrel, 4th pic shows the Cypher of King Edward VII, the maker, the date of assembly and acceptance, the model LE and mark I* which had no provision for a cleaning rod, Cheers
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